HIGHER EDUCATION ACRONYMS · TCAT – Tennessee College of Applied Technology. Governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents, the 27 TCATs award diplomas and certificates below the level

HIGHEREDUCATIONACRONYMS

TennesseeAgencies,Organizations,Systems,andSectorsRelatedtoPostsecondaryEducation

CBER–CenterforBusiness&EconomicResearch.LocatedwithintheCollegeofBusinessAdministrationattheUniversityofTennesseeKnoxville,CBERconductsresearchandfollowsnationalandstateeconomictrendsforUTKnoxville,stateagencies,andvariouspublicandprivateorganizations.Inrecentyears,CBERhaspartneredwithTHECforstudiesofSupplyandDemandforTeachersinTennessee,AcademicProgramSupplyandOccupationalDemandProjections:2012‐2015,AForecastofTennesseeEducationLotteryScholarshipExpenditures,BusinessAttitudestowardEducationinTennessee,andathree‐partseriesonhighereducationgraduates’labormarketemploymentandearningstrends.SCORE–StateCollaborativeonReformingEducation.Anindependent,nonprofit,andnon‐partisanadvocacyandresearchinstitution,SCOREcollaborativelysupportsTennessee’sworktopreparestudentsforcollegeandtheworkforce.FoundedbySenatorBillFrist,M.D.,formerU.S.SenateMajorityLeader,SCOREseekstwooutcomes:1)everystudentinTennesseemustultimatelygraduatefromhighschoolpreparedforcollegeandacareer;and2)Tennesseemustbethefastestimprovingstateinthecountryonkeystudentoutcomesthatwillleadtocollegeandcareerpreparedness,includingK‐12readingandmathproficiency,ACTbenchmarks,andpostsecondaryenrollment.TAICS‐TennesseeAssociationofIndependentCollegesandSchools.TAICSandtheTennesseeProprietaryBusinessSchoolAssociation(TPBSA)aresisteragenciesrepresentingprivatecareerinstitutionsandtheirstudents,faculty,andstaff.TheseorganizationsadvocateforTennesseecareercollegesandschoolsandtheirstudents,faculty,andstaffbyinterfacingwiththeGeneralAssembly,accreditinginstitutions,THEC,andtheTennesseeStudentAssistanceCorporation.ThePresidentofTPBSAisontheTSACBoardofDirectorsandistheGovernmentRelationsAdvisorforTAICS.TBR–TennesseeBoardofRegents.A$2.2billionperyearenterprise,theTBRsystemconsistsof46institutionswithacombinedannualenrollmentofover200,000students,makingitamongthenation'slargestsystemsofpublichighereducation.TBR'ssixstateuniversities,13communitycolleges,and27collegesofappliedtechnologyofferclassesin90ofTennessee's95counties.Thecollegesofappliedtechnologyareexclusivelyfocusedonworkforcedevelopment,whichisalsoamajoremphasisofthecommunitycolleges.Thelatteralsoprovidedegreesdesignedfortransfertoauniversity,wheretheprioritiesarestudentpreparationandresearch,withfiveofthesixuniversitiesgrantingdoctoraldegrees.Alayboardconsistingof18membersgovernsthesystem.

Lastrevised09‐08‐2014 HigherEdAcronyms 2

Itscompositionisasfollows:12laycitizensappointedforsix‐yeartermsbythegovernor,withoneeachfromthestate'sninecongressionaldistrictsandthreegranddivisions;onefacultymemberfromamongthesysteminstitutionsappointedbythegovernorforaone‐yearterm;onestudentfromamongthesysteminstitutionsappointedbythegovernorforaone‐yearterm;andfourex‐officiomembers‐‐theGovernorofTennessee,theCommissionerofEducation,theCommissionerofAgriculture,andtheExecutiveDirectoroftheTennesseeHigherEducationCommission,whoisanon‐votingmember.TCAT–TennesseeCollegeofAppliedTechnology.GovernedbytheTennesseeBoardofRegents,the27TCATsawarddiplomasandcertificatesbelowthelevelofanassociate’sdegree.TheTCATmissionistoprovidehighquality,competency‐basedtechnicaltrainingtoallindividualsbyteachingtheskillsnecessarytobecomecompetentintheireffortstosecurelastingandrewardingemploymentinthecurrentjobmarket.TCATsalsoprovidecustomizedspecialindustrytrainingforareabusinessesandindustriesasthesefirmsstrivetotrain,re‐train,orupgradetheskillsoftheiremployeesinordertoremaincompetitiveinaglobalworkplace.THEC–TennesseeHigherEducationCommission.THECisthestate'scoordinatingagencyforhighereducation.GuidedbythePublicAgendaforTennesseeHigherEducation,THECoverseesanarrayoffinance,academic,researchandconsumerprotectioninitiativesthatpromotestudentsuccessandsupportthestate'scollegecompletionagendaforpostsecondaryeducation.THECactivelyseekstodeveloppolicyrecommendations,programmaticinitiatives,andpartnershipsthatincreaseeducationalattainmentinthestatewhileimprovinghighereducationaccessandsuccessforallTennesseans.TICUA–TennesseeIndependentCollegesandUniversitiesAssociation.TICUAengagesTennessee’sprivatecollegesanduniversitiestoworkcollaborativelyinareasofpublicpolicy,costcontainment,andprofessionaldevelopmenttobetterservethestateanditscitizens.TICUA's34membercollegesanduniversitieseducatenearly80,000studentsfromacrossthestate,country,andworld,andtheyconfernearly19,000degreesayear.TICUAisdedicatedtothepreservationofstudentopportunityandchoiceinhighereducation.TSAC–TennesseeStudentAssistanceCorporation.CreatedbytheTennesseeGeneralAssemblyin1974asanon‐profitcorporationwiththemergingoftheTennesseeEducationalLoanCorporationandtheTennesseeTuitionGrantProgram,TSACprovidesfinancialassistanceforpostsecondaryeducationalopportunitiestoTennesseeresidentsandotherstudentswhohaveestablishedeligibilityinaccordancewithprogramguidelines.TSACassistsstudentsinmeetingtheiracademicandcareergoalsbyadministeringanarrayoffederalandstategrantandloanprogramsandpursuinginitiativessuchasstudentloandefaultprevention,studentloanservicing,andFAFSAcompletiondays.TheExecutiveDirectorofTHECalsoservesasExecutiveDirectorofTSAC.Oversightandpolicydirectionisprovidedbya17‐memberBoardofDirectors.UT–UniversityofTennessee.TheUniversityofTennesseeSystemcomprisescampusesatKnoxville,Chattanooga,andMartin,theHealthScienceCenteratMemphis,andthestatewideInstituteofAgricultureandInstituteforPublicService.About49,500studentsareenrolledinan


arrayofundergraduate,graduate,andprofessionalprograms,andmorethan345,000alumnilivethroughoutthestate,nationandworld.A26‐memberBoardofTrustees,comprisingfiveexofficioand21appointedmembers,governstheSystem.Appointedseatsincludeonevotingandonenonvotingfacultymember,onevotingandonenonvotingstudent,and17congressionaldistrictandcountyrepresentatives.WGUTennesseeisanonprofit,onlineuniversitycreatedtoexpandaccesstohighereducationforTennesseeresidents.EstablishedbythestateofTennesseethroughapartnershipwithnationallyrecognizedWesternGovernorsUniversity,WGUTennesseeoffersmorethan50accreditedundergraduateandgraduatedegreeprogramsinhigh‐demandcareerfields.

StateandFederalInitiativesOperatinginTennessee

ACM–AcademicCommonMarket.TheAcademicCommonMarketisatuition‐savingsprogramforcollegestudentsinthe16SREBmemberstateswhowanttopursuedegreesthatarenotofferedbytheirin‐stateinstitutions.Studentscanenrollinout‐of‐stateinstitutionsthatoffertheirdegreeprogramandpaytheinstitution'sin‐statetuitionrates.HundredsofundergraduateandgraduateprogramsareavailableforresidentsofSREBstates.YoucaneasilysearchprogramsavailableforyourhomestatebyclickingSearchforPrograms.CCA–CompleteCollegeAmerica.Establishedin2009,CompleteCollegeAmericaisanationalnonprofitwithasinglemission:toworkwithstatestosignificantlyincreasethenumberofAmericanswithqualitycareercertificatesorcollegedegreesandtocloseattainmentgapsfortraditionallyunderrepresentedpopulations.Throughresearch,advocacy,andtechnicalassistance,wehelpstatesputinplacethefivegamechangersthatwillhelpallstudentssucceedincollege:performancefunding,co‐requisiteremediation,full‐timeisfifteen,structuredschedules,GuidedPathwaystoSuccess(GPS).CCTA–CompleteCollegeTennesseeAct.InJanuary2010,TennesseepassedtheCCTA,acomprehensivereformagendathatseekstotransformpublichighereducationthroughchangesinacademic,fiscalandadministrativepoliciesatthestateandinstitutionallevels.Theprimarystatepolicyleversforaddressingthestate’seducationalneedsare:PublicAgendaforTennesseeHigherEducation,whichestablishesalinkbetweenthestate’sworkforceandworkplacedevelopmentneedsanditspostsecondaryeducationsystem;anewfundingformulathatincorporatesoutcomesinlieuofenrollment;anewPerformanceFundingprogram,whichfocusesonqualityassuranceandtheestablishmentofinstitutionalmissionprofilesthatdistinguishindividualinstitutionsbydegreelevel,programofferingsandstudentcharacteristics.AtthecenterofthesereformsistheneedformoreTennesseanstobebettereducatedandtrained,whilealsoacknowledgingthestate'sdiminishedfiscalcapacitytosupporthighereducation.CollegeMeasures,LLC,isapartnershipbetweentheDC‐basedAmericanInstitutesforResearchandLondon‐basedMatrixKnowledge,focusedonusingdatatodriveimprovementinhighereducationoutcomesintheUnitedStates,basedonthebeliefthatimportantunderlyingdataareunderexposedandunderutilizedbystudents,parents,policymakers,andevenbyinstitutions


themselves.Theirgoalistomovetheinformationoutofdatawarehousesandinto"datastorefronts"enablingconsumersandpolicymakerstogetmuchbettermeasuresoftherateofreturnontheirinvestmentinhighereducationprogramsandinstitutions.THEChaspartneredwithCollegeMeasurestocreatetwointeractiveweb‐basedtoolsforconsumers,theEconomicSuccessMetricsandEduTrendsTN,whichprovidedataonemploymentandearningsofTennesseehighereducationgraduatesbycollege,degreelevel,andacademicmeta‐major.D55–Driveto55.ThegoalofGovernorBillHaslam’sDriveto55initiativeistoraisethepercentageofTennesseanswithcollegedegreesorcertificationsto55percentbytheyear2025.Tennesseenowlagsthenationalaverageforhighereducation,ranking43rdinworkingadultswithatwo‐yeardegreeorhigher.Reachingthegoalwillrequireincreasingthenumberoftwo‐yearandfour‐yeardegreesaswellastechnicalcertificationsinimportantfieldssuchasweldingandmechatronics.AccomplishingthiswillrequireTennesseetobetterpreparestudentsto:reducetheneedforremedialcourses;increasedualenrollment&dualcredit;improvementoring;reducefinancialbarrierstoeducation;enhanceprogramstoincreasegraduationrates;betterservesome900,000adultswithsomecollegebutnodegree;andidentifyandproactivelyfilltheskillsgapsofthefuture.GEARUP–GainingEarlyAwarenessandReadinessforUndergraduatePrograms.Thisfederaldiscretionarygrantprogramisdesignedtoincreasethenumberoflow‐incomestudentswhoarepreparedtoenterandsucceedinpostsecondaryeducation.GEARUPprovidessix‐yeargrantstostatesandpartnershipstoprovideservicesathigh‐povertymiddleandhighschools.GEARUPgranteesserveanentirecohortofstudentsbeginningnolaterthantheseventhgradeandfollowthecohortthroughhighschool.GEARUPfundsarealsousedtoprovidecollegescholarshipstolow‐incomestudents.MeasureTennessee,orMeasureTN,isthenameofthestatewidelongitudinaldatasystembuiltwithfederalRacetotheTopdollarsawardedtoTennesseein2010.Thesystemcontainsindividual‐leveldatacontributedbytheTennesseeDepartmentofEducation,theTennesseeDepartmentofLabor&WorkforceDevelopment,THEC,andaboutone‐thirdofTICUAcollegesanduniversities.Plansaretobringinadditionalstateagencies(DepartmentofChildren’sServices,DepartmentofHumanServices,etc)inthecomingmonthsandyears.ThesystemismanagedbytheCenterforBusiness&EconomicResearch(CBER),whichishousedintheCollegeofBusinessAdministrationattheUniversityofTennesseeKnoxville.MOOC–MassivelyOpenOnlineCourse(s).AMOOCisafreeonlinecourseaimedatunlimitedparticipationandopenaccessviatheweb.Inadditiontotraditionalcoursematerialssuchasvideos,readings,andproblemsets,MOOCsprovideinteractiveuserforumsthathelpbuildacommunityforstudents,professors,andteachingassistants(TAs).MOOCsarearecentdevelopmentindistanceeducationthatemergedin2012withseveralwell‐financedAmericanprovidersassociatedwithtopuniversities,includingUdacity,Coursera,andedX.PLA–PriorLearningAssessment.PriorLearningAssessmentisatermusedtodescribelearninggainedoutsideatraditionalacademicenvironment.Putanotherway,itislearningandknowledge


studentsacquirewhilelivingtheirlives:working,participatinginemployertrainingprograms,servinginthemilitary,studyingindependently,volunteeringordoingcommunityservice,andstudyingopensourcecourseware.Inshort,PLAisthesystematicevaluationandassessmentofanindividual’slifelearningforcollegecredit,certification,oradvancedstandingtowardfurthereducationortraining.THECledastatewidetaskforcethatdevelopedconsistentstandardsfortheawardingofPLAcreditandiscurrentlyworkingwithindividualinstitutionstoimplementeffectivePLApractices.ROCC–RegentsOnlineCampusCollaborative.TheROCCisacooperativeonlineenterpriseinvolvingthesixpublicuniversities,13communitycolleges,and27collegesofappliedtechnologygovernedbytheTennesseeBoardofRegents.Annually,morethan38,000studentstakeclassesthroughRegentsOnline.RODP–RegentsOnlineDegreeProgram.TBRcollegesanduniversitieshavejoinedviatheROCCtooffertheRODP.CoursescompletedintheRODPareentirelyonlineandtransferableamongalltheparticipatinginstitutions.ForallRODPprograms,studentsareadmittedandenrollforthesecoursesthroughtheirhomeinstitution.IndividualcounselingandassessmentmayrequiretheschedulingofadditionalcoursestoovercomealldeficienciesinEnglish,mathematics,andreading.SAILS(SeamlessAlignmentandIntegratedLearningSupport)introducesthecollegedevelopmentalmathcurriculuminthehighschoolsenioryear.ByembeddingtheTennesseeBoardofRegents(TBR)LearningSupportMathprograminthehighschoolBridgeMathcourse,studentscangetaheadstartontheircollegecareer.Studentswhosuccessfullycompletetheprogramarereadytotakeacollegemathcourse,savingthemtimeandmoneywhileacceleratingtheirpathtograduation.TELS–TennesseeEducationLotteryScholarship.Themainaward,theHOPE,isnotanacronym,buttwostipends–onemerit‐basedandoneneed‐basedcanbeaddedtothebaseHOPEaward,andeachoftheseisanacronym.TheGeneralAssemblyMeritScholarship(GAMS)isascholarshipofupto$1,500forstudentsgraduatingfromaTennesseepublicschool,category1,2,3privateschool,orhomeschoolprogramsthathaveaminimum3.75GPAona4.0scaleand29ACT(1280SAT),areenrolledinatleastfour(4)college‐levelcoursestotalingatleasttwelve(12)semesterhours,andachieveacumulativegradepointaverageof3.0.TheASPIREachievementandneed‐basedawardgrantsupto$2,250forstudentswhomeetTennesseeHOPEScholarshiprequirementsandwhoseparents’orindependentstudent’sandspouse’sadjustedgrossincomeof$36,000orlessonIRStaxform.TennesseeLEAP(LaborEducationAlignmentProgram)‐TheobjectiveofTennesseeLEAPistoeliminateskillsgapsacrossthestateinaproactive,data‐driven,andcoordinatedmannerbyencouragingcollaborationacrosseducationandindustryandbyutilizingregionalworkforcedatatoidentifyandthenfillskillsgapsacrossthestate.Todothis,LEAPwillestablishaSkillsGapGrantcompetitiontoprovide$10millioninstatefundstosupportlocalDriveto55alignmentgroups.Thesegroupswillbemodeledaftergroupsalreadysucceedinginthestate,suchasNashville’sSkillsPanelandtheDepartmentofEducation‐ledPathwaystoProsperity.Localalignmentgroupswill


helpdevelopskillsgapforecasts,identifythehighestpriorities,developprogramsorequipmentneededtofillthosegaps,andthensubmitapplicationsforgrantstohelpfundtheseprograms.TennesseePromise–TennesseePromiseisbothascholarshipandmentoringprogramthatwillbegininthefallof2015.Itwillprovidestudentsalast‐dollarscholarship,meaningthescholarshipwillcovertuitionandfeesnotcoveredbythePellgrant,theHOPEscholarship,orTSAAfunds.Studentsmayusethescholarshipatanyofthestate’s13communitycolleges,27collegesofappliedtechnology,orothereligibleinstitutionofferinganassociate’sdegreeprogram.Whileremovingthefinancialburdeniskey,acriticalcomponentofTennesseePromiseistheindividualguidanceeachparticipantwillreceivefromamentorwhowillassistthestudentasheorshenavigatesthecollegeadmissionsprocess.Inaddition,TennesseePromiseparticipantsmustcompleteeighthoursofcommunityservicepertermenrolled,aswellasmaintainsatisfactoryacademicprogress(2.0GPA)attheirinstitution.TennesseeReconnect–TennesseeReconnectistheDriveto55initiativethatwillhelpmoreadultsreturntoacollegecampustocompletetheirpostsecondarycredential.AspartofTennesseeReconnect,adultswillbeabletoattendandearnacertificateatanyofour27TennesseeCollegesofAppliedTechnology(TCATs)completelyfreeoftuitionandfees.tnAchieves–tnAchievesisaprivatelyfundedlastdollarscholarshipandmentoringprogramdesignedtoprovideeveryTennesseepublichighschoolstudenttheopportunitytopursueaneducationbeyondhighschool.Currently,theprogramoperatesin82countiesandoffersitsservicestonearly48percentofthestate'sgraduatingseniors.Inonlysixyears,tnAchieveshassupportedmorethan6,300studentsintoacommunityortechnicalcollegeandanticipatesitslargestclasstoenterapostsecondaryinstitutionthisfall,withover30,000applicantsfromtheClassof2015.TTP–TennesseeTransferPathway(s).TTPsareadvisingtoolsdesignedtohelpcommunitycollegestudentsplanfortransferringtoaTennesseepublicuniversityorselectregionallyaccredited,non‐profit,Tennesseeprivatecollegesanduniversitiestocompletetheirbaccalaureatedegree.TheTTPsalsoconstituteanagreementbetweencommunitycollegesandfour‐yearcollegesanduniversities,confirmingthatcommunitycollegecoursesmeetmajorpreparationrequirements.TSAA–TheTennesseeStudentAssistanceAwardProgram.(TSAA)wasestablishedtoprovidenon‐repayablefinancialassistancetofinancially‐needyundergraduatestudentswhoareresidentsofTennessee.Applicantsmustbeenrolledoracceptedforenrollment,atleasthalftime,atapublicoraneligiblenon‐publicpostsecondaryinstitutioninTennessee.TheTSAAisastate‐fundedgrantprogramandincludesfundsfromtheTennesseeEducationLottery.

AccreditingAgencies:Regional

MSACS–MiddleStatesAssociationofCollegesandSchools(Philadelphia,PA).MSACSisaregionalaccreditingassociationthatprovidesaccreditationtoschoolslocatedinDelaware,theDistrictofColumbia,Maryland,NewJersey,NewYork,Pennsylvania,PuertoRico,theU.S.VirginIslandsandotherlocationsoverseas.HighereducationinstitutionsareaccreditedbyMSACS.


NCA–NorthCentralAssociation(Chicago,IL).NCAisamembershiporganization,consistingofcolleges,universities,andschoolsinArkansas,Arizona,Colorado,Illinois,Indiana,Iowa,Kansas,Michigan,Minnesota,Missouri,Nebraska,NewMexico,NorthDakota,Ohio,Oklahoma,SouthDakota,WestVirginia,Wisconsin,andWyomingthatisengagedineducationalaccreditation.HighereducationinstitutionsareaccreditedbytheNCAHigherLearningCommission(HLC).NEASC–NewEnglandAssociationofSchools&Colleges(Burlington,MA).NEASCisaregionalaccreditingassociationthatprovidesaccreditationtoschoolslocatedinsixstatesofConnecticut,Maine,Massachusetts,NewHampshire,RhodeIslandandVermont,and138American/Internationalschoolsaroundtheglobe.HighereducationinstitutionsareaccreditedbyNEASCCommissiononInstitutionsofHigherEducation(CIHE).NWCCU–NorthwestCommissiononCollegesandUniversities(Redmond,WA).NWCCUisanindependent,nonprofitmembershiporganizationrecognizedastheregionalauthorityoneducationalqualityandinstitutionaleffectivenessofhighereducationinstitutionsinAlaska,Idaho,Montana,Nevada,Oregon,UtahandWashington.Itfulfillsitsmissionbyestablishingaccreditationcriteriaandevaluationproceduresbywhichinstitutionsarereviewed.SACS–SouthernAssociationofCollegesandSchools(Atlanta,GA). TheSouthernAssociationofCollegesandSchoolsCommissiononCollegesistheregionalbodyfortheaccreditationofdegree‐grantinghighereducationinstitutionsintheSouthernstates:Alabama,Florida,Georgia,Kentucky,Louisiana,Mississippi,NorthCarolina,SouthCarolina,Tennessee,Texas,VirginiaandLatinAmerica.HighereducationinstitutionsareaccreditedbytheSACSCommissiononColleges(COC).WASC–WesternAssociationofSchoolsandColleges(Burlingame,CA).WASCisaregionalaccreditingassociationthatprovidesaccreditationtohighschoolsandnon‐degree‐grantingpostsecondaryinstitutionsinCalifornia,Hawaii,Guam,theCommonwealthoftheNorthernMarianas,AmericanSamoa,Micronesia,theMarshallIslands,andEastAsia.HighereducationinstitutionsareaccreditedbytheWASCAccreditingCommissionforSchools(ACS).

AccreditingAgencies:National

CHEA–CouncilforHigherEducationAccreditation.TheCHEAisaprivate,nonprofitnationalorganizationthatcoordinatesaccreditationactivityintheUnitedStates.CHEArepresentsmorethan3000collegesanduniversitiesand60national,regional,andspecializedaccreditors.ACICS–TheAccreditingCouncilofIndependentCollegesandSchools.ACICSisanationalaccreditingagencyrecognizedbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentofEducationandtheCouncilforHigherEducationAccreditation(CHEA).Accreditationisavoluntaryactivityinitiatedbytheinstitutionthatrequiresarigorousself‐evaluationandanindependent,objectiveappraisaloftheoveralleducationalqualitybypeers.


AccreditingAgencies:Discipline‐Specific

AACSB–AssociationtoAdvanceCollegiateSchoolsofBusiness.TheAACSBisanon‐profitorganizationofeducationalinstitutions,corporations,andisthepremieraccreditingagencyforbachelors,masters,anddoctoratedegreesinbusinessadministrationandaccounting.AALE–AmericanAcademyforLiberalEducation.TheAALEisanationalorganizationthataccreditsprogramsinliberalartsthatmeetthestringenteducational,financial,andadministrativerequirements.AAMC–AssociationofAmericanMedicalColleges.TheAAMCisanon‐profitorganizationthatpromotestheadvancementofmedicalschools.ABA–AmericanBarAssociation.ABAprovideslawschoolaccreditation,continuinglegaleducation,informationonthelaw,programstoassistlawyersandjudgesintheirwork,andinitiativestoimprovethelegalsystemforthepublic.ABET–AccreditationBoardforEngineeringandTechnology.ABETisanaccreditationagencyforappliedscience,computing,engineering,andengineeringtechnologyeducation.ACCE–AmericanCouncilforConstructionEducation.TheACCEisanonprofitcorporationwhosemissionistoprovidequalityconstructioneducationprograms.Thisisaccomplishedthroughtheaccreditationofconstructioneducationatpostsecondaryinstitutions.ACCET–AccreditingCouncilforContinuingEducationalTraining.ACCETisavoluntarygroupoforganizationscommittedtoself‐regulationthroughthepeer‐reviewandevaluationprocess.ACEJMC–AccreditingCouncilonEducationinJournalismandMassCommunication.ACEJMCisdedicatedtopromotingandfosteringeducationalprogramsinjournalismandmasscommunication.Thecouncilsetsacademicstandardsandrequirementsandprovidesaprocessofpeerreview,awardingaccreditedstatustothoseinstitutionsthatmeettheserequirements.ACPE–AccreditationCouncilforPharmacyEducation.ACPEisthenationalagencyfortheaccreditationofprofessionaldegreeprogramsinpharmacyandprovidersofcontinuingpharmaceuticaleducation.ADA–AmericanDentalAssociation.TheCommissiononDentalAccreditation(CDA)servesthepublicbyestablishing,maintaining,andapplyingstandardsthatensurethequalityofdentalanddental‐relatededucationandreflectthecontinuingevolvementofdentistry.ADA–AmericanDieteticAssociation.TheCommissiononAccreditationofDieteticsEducation(CADE)istheaccreditingagencyoftheADAforeducationprogramspreparingstudentsforcareersasregistereddieticiansorregistereddietetictechnicians.


ALA–AmericanLibraryAssociation.TheALAprovidesaccreditationforcollegesanduniversitieswithprogramsinlibraryandinformationsciences.AOA–AmericanOptometricAssociation.TheAccreditationCouncilonOptometricMedicine(ACOM)isthebranchoftheAOAresponsiblefortheaccreditationofprogramsinpostsecondaryeducationonoptometry.ItisthesoleorganizationfortheO.D.programandisrecognizedbytheU.S.DepartmentofEducation.ASHA–AmericanSpeech‐Language‐HearingAssociation.Institutionsofhigherlearningthatoffergraduatedegreesinaudiologyand/orspeechpathologycanvoluntarilyseekaccreditationbytheCouncilonAcademicAccreditation(CAA)oftheASHA.TheU.S.DepartmentofEducationandtheCHEArecognizetheCAAasthesoleagencytoaccreditprogramsfocusedonspeech,language,and/orhearing.ATS–AssociationofTheologicalSchoolsintheUnitedStatesandCanada.ATSprovidesservicesinaccreditation,leadershipeducationforadministratorsandfaculty,developmentoftheologicaleducation,anddataandcommunications.AVMA–AmericanVeterinaryMedicalAssociation.ThemissionoftheAVMAistoadvancetheartofveterinarymedicine,includingitsrelationshiptobiologicalsciences,agriculture,andmedicine.TheAVMAaccreditscollegesofveterinaryeducationandveterinarylabtechniciansintheUnitedStatesandCanada.ItalsoreviewsforeigninstitutionsandrecognizesthosethatmeetAVMAstandards.CAAHEP–CommissiononAccreditationofAlliedHealthEducationPrograms.CAAHEPisanon‐profitorganizationwhosepurposeistoaccreditentry‐levelalliedhealtheducationprograms.CAAHEPaccreditsprogramsin18alliedhealthprofessionsrecognizingover1900alliedhealtheducationprogramsinmorethan1300institutions.CACREP–CouncilforAccreditationofCounselingandRelatedEducationPrograms.CACREPisaspecializedaccreditingagencyforpostsecondaryeducationincounseling.FormedasanaffiliateoftheAmericanCounselingAssociation,itsmissionisthesame—topromotetheadvancementofqualityeducationalprogramofferings.CCE–CouncilonChiropracticEducation.TheCCEistheagencyrecognizedbytheU.S.SecretaryofEducationtoaccreditprogramsandinstitutionsofferingtheDoctorofChiropracticdegree.CEPH–CouncilonEducationforPublicHealth.TheCEPHisanindependentorganizationrecognizedbytheU.S.DepartmentofEducationtoaccreditprogramsinpublichealthandcertainpublichealthprogramsinsettingsotherthanschoolsofpublichealth.TheCEPHadvancesthestudyofpublichealthbypreparingstudentsforcareersinthesefields.CIDA–CouncilforInteriorDesignAccreditation.TheCouncilforInteriorDesignAccreditationisanindependent,non‐profitaccreditingorganizationfor150interiordesigneducationprogramsatcollegesanduniversitiesintheUnitedStatesandCanada.


COE–CouncilonOccupationalEducation.TheCOEisavoluntaryorganizationservingpostsecondaryeducationandtraininginstitutions,centers,andsimilarentitiesinterestedintheimprovementoftheworkforceintheUnitedStates.TheCOEisanationalaccreditingagencythatiscommittedtoqualityandintegrityincareerandworkforcedevelopment.CORE–CouncilonRehabilitationEducation.COREisaccreditedbytheCouncilforHigherEducationandAccreditationandtheAssociationofSpecializedandProfessionalAccreditorstoaccreditinstitutionsprovidingeducationalprogramsinrehabilitationcounseloreducation.CSAB–ComputerSciencesAccreditationBoard.CSABistheleadagencyinassociationwiththeAccreditationBoardofEngineeringandTechnologyfortheaccreditationofprogramsincomputerscience,informationsystems,andsoftwareengineering,andisacooperatingagencyintheaccreditationofcomputerengineeringprograms.CSWE–CouncilonSocialWorkEducation.TheCSWEisanon‐profitnationalorganizationrepresenting158graduateand453undergraduateprogramsinsocialwork.Thegroupisapartnershipofeducationalandprofessionalinstitutions,socialwelfareagencies,andprivatecitizens.ThegroupisrecognizedbytheCouncilforHigherEducationAccreditationasthesoleaccreditingagencyforsocialworkintheUnitedStates.DETC–DistanceEducationandTrainingCouncil.TheAccreditingCommissionofDETCisadulyconsistedaccreditingbody,whichoperateswithintheincorporatedassociationoftheDETC,andithascompleteautonomytomakeaccreditingdecisions.TheCommissionestablisheseducational,ethical,andbusinessstandards;itexaminesandevaluatesdistanceeducationinstitutionsintermsofthosestandards;andaccreditsthosewhoqualify.EHAC–NationalEnvironmentalHealthScienceandProtectionAccreditationCouncil.Thepurposeofthecouncilistoenhancetheeducationandtrainingofstudentswhointendtobecomeenvironmentalhealthscienceandprotectionpractitioners/professionals.Thecouncilhasestablishedspecificcriteriaforundergraduateandgraduateprogramaccreditation,whichincludesstandardsforcurriculum,faculty,management,enrollment,andprogramfundingaspectsoftheinstitution.MACTE–MontessoriAccreditationCouncilforTeacherEducation.MACTEisanon‐profit,autonomous,accreditingagencyforMontessoriteachereducationprograms.ThecommissionaccreditspostsecondaryeducationalinstitutionsthatoffercomprehensiveMontessoriteachereducation.Italsoworkswithprogramswithinaninstitutionalreadyaccreditedbyanotheragency.NAAB–NationalArchitecturalAccreditingBoard.TheNAABisthesoleorganizationauthorizedintheUnitedStatestoaccreditprofessionaldegreeprogramsinarchitecture.StateregistrationboardsrequireanyapplicantforlicensuretohavegraduatedfromanNAABaccreditedprogram,obtainingsuchadegreeisvitalforacareerinarchitecture.NAACLS–NationalAccreditingAgencyforClinicalLaboratorySciences.TheNAACLSisthepremiereagencyforaccreditationandapprovalofeducationalprogramsintheclinicallaboratory


servicesintheUnitedStates.NAACLS,incollaborationwithitsprofessionalorganizations,providescomprehensiveservicesincludingprogramaccreditation,programapproval,consultation,andcontinuingeducation.NASAD–NationalAssociationofSchoolsofArtandDesign.NASADisanorganizationofschools,colleges,anduniversitiesthatofferartanddesignstudies.Institutionalmembershipismaintainedandcontinuedthroughthepeer‐reviewprocessofaccreditation.NASADprovidesstatisticalinformation,professionaldevelopment,andpolicyanalysesservices.NASD–NationalAssociationofSchoolsofDance.TheNASDisanorganizationofschools,colleges,andinstitutionsthatofferprogramsindance.Institutionalmembershipisobtainedandmaintainedthroughthepeer‐reviewprocessofaccreditation.NASDprovidesstatisticaldata,professionaldevelopment,andpolicyanalyses.NASM–NationalAssociationofSchoolsandMusic.NASMisanassociationofschools,colleges,anduniversitiesthatoffermusicstudies.Institutionalmembershipisobtainedandcontinuedthroughthepeerreviewprocessofaccreditation.NASMprovidesstatisticalinformation,professionaldevelopment,andpolicyanalyses.NAST–NationalAssociationofSchoolsofTheatre.NASTisanorganizationofschools,colleges,anduniversitiesthatoffertheatrestudies.Institutionalmembershipisobtainedthroughapeer‐reviewaccreditationprocess.NASTprovidesstatisticalinformation,professionaldevelopment,andpolicyanalysesservices.NCATE–NationalCouncilforAccreditationofTeacherEducation.NCATEistheprofession’smechanismtohelpestablishhighqualityteacherpreparation.Throughtheprocessofprofessionalaccreditationofschools,colleges,anddepartmentsofeducation,NCATEworkstoenhancethequalityofteachingandteacherpreparation.NLN–NationalLeagueforNursingAccreditingCommission,Inc.TheNLNisresponsibleforthespecializedaccreditationofnursingschoolsandprograms.Thecommissionhastheresponsibilitytocarryouttheapplicationofstandardsandcriteria,accreditationprocess,management,andpolicymakingoftheNLN.NRPA–NationalRecreationandParkAssociation.TheNRPAworksinassociationwiththeAmericanAssociationofLeisureandRecreationtoaccreditprogramsandinstitutionsinthefieldofparksandrecreation.Accreditationisvoluntaryandmaybesubmittedbyanyfour‐yearinstitutionsofferingaprograminrecreationeducation.SAF–SocietyofAmericanForesters.SAFisanationalscientificandeducationalorganizationrepresentingtheforestryprofessionintheUnitedStates.ThemissionofSAFistopromotethescienceofforestrythroughcreationandimplementationofeducationalprogramsandtheaccreditationofpostsecondaryeducationinforestry.


FederalAgencies,Consortia,andPrograms

IES–InstituteforEducationSciences.(Washington,DC)IEStheresearcharmoftheU.S.DepartmentofEducation,whoseactivitiesbylawmustbefreeofpartisanpoliticalinfluence.Theirmissionistoproviderigorousandrelevantevidenceonwhichtogroundeducationpracticeandpolicyandsharethisinformationbroadly.Byidentifyingwhatworks,whatdoesn't,andwhy,weaimtoimproveeducationaloutcomesforallstudents,particularlythoseatriskoffailure.IPEDS–IntegratedPostsecondaryEducationDataSystem.IPEDSisafederaldatacollectionsystemadministeredbytheNationalCenterforEducationStatistics.IPEDSgathersdataaboutstudents,facultyandfinancesacrossthepostsecondaryeducationspectrum.NCCCRP–NationalCommunityCollegeCouncilforResearchandPlanning.(Washington,DC)NCCCRPistheonlyprofessionalorganizationdedicatedtoservinginstitutionalresearchprofessionalsincommunitycolleges.TheorganizationisanaffiliateoftheAssociationforInstitutionalResearch(AIR)andacounciloftheAmericanAssociationoftheCommunityColleges(AACC).SessionsformembersareconductedattheannualconferencesofAACCandAIR.ResourcesincludeanactivelistservandtheJournalofAppliedResearchintheCommunityCollege,publishedtwiceperyear.NCES–NationalCenterforEducationStatistics.TheNCESsitecontainsadatabasefilledwithsurveysandstatisticscompiledbythecenter.ThereisalsoanIntegratedPostsecondaryEducationDataSystem,whichcollectsdataandsurveysfromallpostsecondaryeducationproviders.NCESalsoprovidesthePostsecondaryEducationQuickInformationSystem,orPEQIS,whichprovidestheuserwith“issue‐oriented”dataandotherfactsthatcouldnotbeobtainedthroughothersurveysquickly.NPEC–NationalPostsecondaryEducationCooperative.AuthorizedbyCongress,NPECisavoluntarycooperativeofpostsecondaryeducationdatausers.ThemissionofNPECistoidentifyandcommunicateongoingandemergingissuesgermanetopostsecondaryeducation,andtopromotethequality,comparabilityandutilityofpostsecondarydataandinformationthatsupportpolicydevelopment,implementation,andevaluation.NRC–NationalResearchCouncil.(Washington,DC)TheNRCisapartoftheNationalAcademies(e.g.,NationalAcademyofSciences,NationalAcademyofEngineering)andistheprincipaloperatingagencyofboththeNationalAcademyofSciencesandNationalAcademyofEngineering.TheNRCconductsastudyofResearchDoctoralprogramseverytenyears,whichhasproducedrankingsforgraduateeducation.NSF–NationalScienceFoundation.(Arlington,VA)TheNSFhasseveraldatabasesavailableonlineforresearchers.ThefirstistheComputer‐AidedSciencePolicyAnalysisandResearch(WebCASPAR).Thissystemprovidesinformationonindividualfieldsofscienceandengineeringfrominstitutionsacrossthecountry.TheScientistsandEngineersStatisticalDataSystem(SESTAT)isasystem,whichprovidesemployment,demographic,andeducationalcharacteristicsofscientistsandengineersintheUnitedStates.


OERI–OfficeofEducationalResearchandImprovement.(Washington,DC)TheOfficeofEducationalResearchandImprovementprovidesnationalleadershipincultivatingandexpandingthepublic'sfundamentalknowledgeandunderstandingofeducation.Moreover,OERIaggressivelypromotestheapplicationofsuchknowledgetoimprovepracticeintheclassroom.OERIalsomonitorsthestateofeducationandstimulatesexcellenceandequityineducationandtheachievementoftheNationalEducationGoalsbyspurringreformintheschoolsystemsthroughouttheUnitedStates.OERIaccomplishestheseactivitiesthroughitsactivecollaborationwithresearchers,teachers,schooladministrators,librarians,parents,students,employersandpolicy‐makers.USDOE–UnitedStatesDepartmentofEducation.(Washington,DC)TheU.S.DepartmentofEducationistheagencyofthefederalgovernmentthatestablishespolicyfor,administers,andcoordinatesmostfederalassistancetoeducation.ItassiststhepresidentinexecutinghiseducationpoliciesforthenationandinimplementinglawsenactedbyCongress.TheDepartment'smissionistoserveAmerica'sstudents‐topromotestudentachievementandpreparationforglobalcompetitivenessbyfosteringeducationalexcellenceandensuringequalaccess.

ProfessionalMembershipAssociations

AACC–AmericanAssociationofCommunityColleges.(Washington,DC)TheAACCisthenationalassociationforcommunityandjuniorcolleges;ithasover1,000memberinstitutions.AACRAO–AmericanAssociationofCollegiateRegistrars&AdmissionsOfficers.(Washington,DC)AACRAOincludesover9,000registrarandadmissionsprofessionalsfromover2,300institutionsin35countries.AASCU–AmericanAssociationofStateCollegesandUniversities.(Washington,DC)AASCUisanassociationofpublicfour‐yearcollegesanduniversities.AAU–AssociationofAmericanUniversities.(Washington,DC)TheAssociationofAmericanUniversitiesisanassociationof62leadingpublicandprivateresearchuniversitiesintheUnitedStatesandCanada.AAUP–AmericanAssociationofUniversityProfessors.(Washington,DC)Thissitecontainsanationaldatabase,AAUPStatements&Reports,whichcontainsallresearchandpublicationsdonebytheorganization.TheFacultySalaryandFacultyDistributionFactSheet2000‐2001,andtheAnnualReportontheEconomicStatusoftheProfession2000‐2001canbothbeobtainedthroughthedatabase.AERA–AmericanEducationalResearchAssociation.(Washington,DC)AERAhasover22,000members;itsprimaryfocusisencouragingscholarlyinquiryrelatedtoeducationatalllevelsandpromotingthedisseminationandpracticalapplicationofresearchresults.


AIR–AssociationforInstitutionalResearch.(Tallahassee,FL)AIRistheprimaryorganizationforinstitutionalresearchersinhigherandpostsecondaryeducation.AIRisdedicatedtoprofessionalgrowthofallwhoparticipateindecisionmakingrelatedtohighereducationviamanagementresearch,policyanalysisandplanning.TheannualForumistheprimaryinternationalconferenceforIRprofessionals.APA–AmericanPsychologicalAssociation.(Washington,DC)TheAPAistheassociationdedicatedtoadvancingthestudyofpsychologythroughthepromotionofresearchandtheadvancementofthemethodsofresearch,theimprovementofpsychologist’squalificationsthroughhighstandardsofethics,conduct,educationandachievement,andtheaccreditationofprogramsofpsychologyinpostsecondaryeducationalinstitutions.APPAM–AssociationforPublicPolicyAnalysisandManagement.(Washington,DC)APPAMisdedicatedtoimprovingpublicpolicyandmanagementbyfosteringexcellenceinresearch,analysis,andeducation.ASHE–AssociationfortheStudyofHigherEducation.(LasVegas,NV)ASHEisascholarlysocietywithabout1,300membersdedicatedtohighereducationasafieldofstudy.TheAssociationpromotescollaborationamongitsmembersandothersengagedinthestudyofhighereducationthroughresearch,conferences,andpublications.ASPA–AssociationofSpecializedandProfessionalAccreditors.(Washington,DC)TheASPAisanindependent,non‐profitcorporationorganizedundertheDistrictofColombiaNonprofitCorporationActforeducational,scientificresearch,mutualimprovement,andprofessionalpurposes.ASPA‐memberaccreditorssetnationaleducationalstandardsforabout40specializeddisciplinesandprofessions.ECS–EducationCommissionoftheStates.(Denver,CO)ECStracksstatepolicytrends,translateacademicresearch,provideunbiasedadviceandcreateopportunitiesforstateleaderstolearnfromoneanother.EDUCAUSE.(Washington,DC)isanonprofitassociationwhosemissionistoadvancehighereducationbypromotingtheintelligentuseofinformationtechnology.Membershipisopentoinstitutionsofhighereducation,corporationsservingthehighereducationinformationtechnologymarket,andotherrelatedassociationsandorganizations.NCSL–NationalConferenceofStateLegislatures.(Denver,CO)NCSLiscommittedtothesuccessofalllegislatorsandstaff.Ourmissionistoimprovethequalityandeffectivenessofstatelegislatures,promotepolicyinnovationandcommunicationamongstatelegislatures,andensurestatelegislaturesastrong,cohesivevoiceinthefederalsystem.SCUP–SocietyforCollegeandUniversityPlanning.(AnnArbor,MI)SCUPisfocusedonthepromotion,advancement,andapplicationofeffectiveplanninginhighereducation.Membersincludethosewhodealwithstrategicplanningandwithphysicalplantplanning,developmentandmanagement.


SHEEO–StateHigherEducationExecutiveOfficers.(Boulder,CO) SHEEOisthenationalassociationofstatehighereducationleaderswhoservestatewidecoordinatingandgoverningboardsandotherstatepolicyagenciesforhighereducation.SHEEOservesitsmembersasanadvocateforstatepolicyleadership,asaliaisonbetweenstatesandthefederalgovernment,asavehicleforlearningfromandcollaboratingwithpeers,andasasourceofinformationandanalysisoneducationalandpublicpolicyissues.SHEEOseekstoadvancepublicpoliciesandeducationalpracticestoachievemorewidespreadaccessandsuccessfulparticipationinhighereducation,morenewdiscoveriesthroughresearch,andmoreapplicationsofknowledgethatimprovethequalityofhumanlives.

ExternalOrganizations(non‐federal)

ACE–AmericanCouncilonEducation.(Washington,DC)ACEisanationalcoordinatingbodyforhighereducation,withover1800memberinstitutions.ACEmaintainsabroadnationalandinternationalagendaandseekstoadvancethegoalsofhigherandadulteducation.AIR–AmericanInstitutesforResearch.(Tallahassee,FL)AIRistheprimaryorganizationforinstitutionalresearchersinhigherandpostsecondaryeducation.AIRisdedicatedtoprofessionalgrowthofallwhoparticipateindecisionmakingrelatedtohighereducationviamanagementresearch,policyanalysisandplanning.TheannualForumistheprimaryinternationalconferenceforIRprofessionalsCAE–CouncilforAidtoEducation.(NewYork,NY)AsubsidiaryoftheRANDCorporation,originallyknownastheCouncilforFinancialAidtoEducation,CAEwasestablishedbyagroupofbusinessexecutivestoadvancecorporatesupportofhighereducation.CAE'sprimarypurposewas:"Topromoteabetterunderstandingofthesubstantialcontributionwhichhighereducationmakestotheeffectiveness,skill,growth,andsuccessofAmericanbusiness,andtothedevelopmentofthecountry."CAEpublishesanumberofreportsandconductstheVoluntarySupportofEducationSurvey,theCollegiateLearningAssessmentProjectandgrantstheLeadersforChangeAwards.CREDE–CenterforResearchonEducation,Diversity,andExcellence.(Hawaii)ThemissionofCREDEistoprovideassistancetostudentsatriskofeducationalfailure.TheirsitecontainsasearchabledatabasethathasaccesstoallCREDEreportsandpublications.Thesesurveysfocusonrace,poverty,andgeographiclocationasitpertainstoatriskstudents.CRESPAR–CenterforResearchontheEducationofStudentsPlacedatRisk.(Baltimore,MD)ThissiteisthepartnershipofJohnHopkinsUniversityandHowardUniversitytoconductresearchandevaluationofschoolingforstudentsplacedatrisk.AnationaldatabaseisavailablethatcontainsreportsandsurveyscompiledbyCRESPAR.AnnualResearchandDevelopmentreportsarealsoavailableonline.HERI–HigherEducationResearchInstitute.(LosAngeles,CA)TheHigherEducationResearchInstituteisbasedintheGraduateSchoolofEducationandInformationStudiesattheUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles.TheInstituteservesasaninterdisciplinarycenterforresearch,evaluation,information,policystudies,andresearchtraininginpostsecondaryeducation.Itisthehomeofthe


CIRP(CooperativeInstitutionalResearchProgram)FreshmanSurvey,thenation’soldestandlargeststudyofhighereducation.NCHEMS–NationalCenterforHigherEducationManagementSystems.(Boulder,CO)TheNationalCenterforHigherEducationManagementSystemsisaprivatenonprofit(501)(c)(3)organizationwhosemissionistoassistcollegesanduniversitiesastheyimprovetheirmanagementcapability.NCPI–NationalCenterforPostsecondaryImprovement.(Stanford,CA)TheNCPIwebsitehasasearchabledatabasedividedintosixareas:OrganizationalImprovement,EducationandWork,EmploymentOutcomes,ProfessionalDevelopment,StudentLearningandAssessment,Productivity,andNationalSurveys.TheyalsoprovideNCPIpublicationsintextformonline.NSC–NationalStudentClearinghouse.(Herndon,VA)TheNationalStudentClearinghouse(formerlyknownastheNationalStudentLoanClearinghouse),anon‐profitassociationfoundedbythehighereducationcommunity,streamlinesthestudentrecordverificationprocessforcollegesanduniversities,studentsandalumni,lendinginstitutions,employers,andotherorganizations.TheClearinghousemaintainsacomprehensiveelectronicregistryofstudentrecordsthatprovidesasingle,highlyautomatedpoint‐of‐contactfororganizationsandindividualsrequiringtimely,accurateverificationofstudentenrollment,degree,andloandata.

MajorTradePapers,Newsletters,andSerials

ChangeMagazine.Changeisamagazinedealingwithcontemporaryissuesinhigherlearning.Itisintendedtostimulateandinformreflectivepractitionersincolleges,universities,corporations,government,andelsewhere.Usingamagazineformatratherthanthatofanacademicjournal,Changespotlightstrends,providesnewinsightsandideas,andanalyzestheimplicationsofeducationalprograms,policies,andpractices.ChronicleofHigherEducation.BasedinWashington,D.C.,TheChronicleispublishedeveryweekdayandisapopulardestinationfornews,advice,andjobsforpeopleinacademe.TheChronicle'sWebsitefeaturesthecompletecontentsofthelatestissue;dailynewsandadvicecolumns;thousandsofcurrentjoblistings;anarchiveofpreviouslypublishedcontent;vibrantdiscussionforums;andcareer‐buildingtoolssuchasonlineCVmanagement,salarydatabases,andmore.EducationalEvaluationandPolicyAnalysis.EducationalEvaluationandPolicyAnalysispublishesscholarlyarticlesoftheoretical,methodological,orpolicyinteresttothoseengagedineducationalpolicyanalysis,evaluation,anddecisionmaking.Itisamultidisciplinarypolicyjournalandconsidersoriginalresearchfrommultipledisciplines,theoreticalorientations,andmethodologies.EducationalEvaluationReview.EducationalEvaluationReviewisanacademicjournalconcernedwithpolicyandpractice,withcontributionssoundlybasedinresearchorscholarship,butwithimplicationsforreformorchange.Itseekstoensurerigorintheseanalysesbytakingaproblem‐


orientedapproach;itisconcernedtohelpformulatetheproblemsofhighereducation,toconsideralternativesolutionsandtotestthem.Lastly,itseekstocoverthewholefieldofpost‐schooleducationandwithallthosewhoworkwithorwithinthefield:academics,students,administratorsandpolicymakersatalllevels.InsideHigherEd.InsideHigherEdisanonlinesourcefornews,opinionandjobsforallofhighereducation.Thiswebsiteofferbreakingnewsandfeaturestories,dailycommentary,areasforcommentoneveryarticle,practicalcareercolumns,andapowerfulsuiteoftoolstohelphighereducationprofessionalsgetjobsandcollegesidentifyandhireemployees.JournalofHigherEducation.Foundedin1930,TheJournalofHigherEducationistheleadingscholarlyjournalontheinstitutionofhighereducation.Articlescombinedisciplinarymethodswithcriticalinsighttoinvestigateissuesimportanttofaculty,administrators,andprogrammanagers.JournalofGeneralEducation.Forfaculty,administrators,andpolicymakers,JGEistheprofessionalforumfordiscussingissuesingeneraleducationtoday.JGEaddressesthegeneraleducationconcernsofcommunitycolleges,four‐yearcolleges,universities,andstatesystems.Alongwithperceptiveessaysontheroleofgeneraleducationtoday,JGEfeaturesarticlesoninnovativemethodsinteachingandassessment,profilesofexemplarygeneraleducationprograms,casestudiesofsuccessfulcurriculumdevelopmentefforts,andreviewsofbooksandmonographsrelatedtogeneraleducation.JournalofStudentFinancialAid.TheJournalofStudentFinancialAidisanopen‐access,peer‐reviewedjournalthatfeaturesworksofsignificanceinallareasofpostsecondarystudentfinancialassistance. Theirmissionistobringscholarlyworktobearonthepracticeandtheoryofprovidingfinancialassistancetostudentspursuingpostsecondaryeducation.Theyincludeworkfromdiversemethodologicalandconceptualperspectiveswithimplicationsforthepracticeoffinancialaidadministration.PostsecondaryEducationOpportunity.Thisresearchletterisfoundedontwofundamentalbeliefs.First,soundpublicsocialpolicyrequiresaccurate,current,independent,andfocusedinformationonthehumancondition.Second,educationisessentialtothedevelopmentofhumanpotentialandresourcesforbothprivateandpublicbenefit.Therefore,thepurposeofthisresearchletteristoinformthosewhoformulate,fund,andadministerpublicpolicyandprogramsabouttheconditionofandinfluencesthataffectpostsecondaryeducationopportunityforallAmericans.ResearchinHigherEducation.ResearchinHigherEducationisajournalpublishedbyABRI‐‐theAcademicandBusinessResearchInstitute.Itpublishes"original,quantitativeresearcharticleswhichcontributetoanincreasedunderstandingofaninstitution,aidfacultyinmakingmoreinformeddecisionsaboutcurrentorfutureoperations,andimprovetheefficiencyofaninstitution."JournalTopicsincluderetention,financialmanagementinhighereducation,newprogramdevelopment,andcurriculumandrecruitment.ReviewofHigherEducation. TheReviewofHigherEducationprovidesaforumfordiscussionofvariedissuesaffectinghighereducation.Thejournaladvancesthestudyofcollege‐anduniversity‐


relatedtopicsthroughpeer‐reviewedarticles,essays,reviewsandresearchfindings,andbyemphasizingsystematicinquiry‐‐bothquantitativeandqualitative‐‐andpracticalimplications.Consideredoneoftheleadingresearchjournalsinthefield,TheReviewkeepsscholars,academicleaders,andpublicpolicymakersabreastofcriticalissuesfacinghighereducationtoday.TheReviewofHigherEducationistheofficialjournaloftheAssociationfortheStudyofHigherEducation(ASHE).

Non‐FederalGrantMakerswithPostsecondaryEducationGrantsinTennessee

FordFoundation.(NewYork,NY)CreatedwithgiftsandbequestsbyEdselandHenryFord,thefoundationisanindependent,nonprofit,nongovernmentalorganization,withitsownboard,andisentirelyseparatefromtheFordMotorCompany.Thetrusteesofthefoundationsetpolicyanddelegateauthoritytothepresidentandseniorstaffforthefoundation’sgrantmakingandoperations.ProgramofficersintheUnitedStates,Africa,theMiddleEast,AsiaandLatinAmericaexploreopportunitiestopursuethefoundation’sgoals,formulatestrategiesandrecommendproposalsforfunding.GatesFoundation.(Seattle,WA)TheGatesFoundationworkswithpartnerorganizationsworldwidetotacklecriticalproblemsinfourprogramareas.ItsGlobalDevelopmentDivisionworkstohelptheworld’spoorestpeopleliftthemselvesoutofhungerandpoverty.TheirGlobalHealthDivisionaimstoharnessadvancesinscienceandtechnologytosavelivesindevelopingcountries.TheirUnitedStatesDivisionworkstoimproveU.S.highschoolandpostsecondaryeducationandsupportvulnerablechildrenandfamiliesinWashingtonState,andtheirGlobalPolicy&AdvocacyDivisionseekstobuildstrategicrelationshipsandpromotepoliciesthatwillhelpadvanceourwork.TheGatesFoundationapproachtograntmakinginallfourareasemphasizescollaboration,innovation,risk‐taking,and,mostimportantly,results.LuminaFoundation.(Indianapolis,IN) LuminaFoundationisanindependent,privatefoundationcommittedtoincreasingtheproportionofAmericanswithhigh‐qualitydegrees,certificatesandothercredentialsto60percentby2025.Lumina’soutcomes‐basedapproachfocusesonhelpingtodesignandbuildanaccessible,responsiveandaccountablehighereducationsystemwhilefosteringanationalsenseofurgencyforactiontoachieveGoal2025.In2012,LuminaFoundationmade70grantsforatotalcommitmentofmorethan$30million.Startingin2013,Luminagrantsfocusontwoimperatives:MobilizingtoReachGoal2025andDesigning&Buildinga21stCenturyHigherEducationSystem.

RegionalHigherEducationCompacts

MHEC–MidwesternHigherEducationCompact.(Minneapolis,MN)ThepurposeofMHECistoprovidegreaterhighereducationopportunitiesandservicesintheMidwesternregion,withtheaimoffurtheringregionalaccessto,researchinandchoiceofhighereducationforthecitizensresidingintheseveralstates,whicharepartiestothecompact.ThisnonprofitregionalorganizationservesIllinois,Indiana,Iowa,Kansas,Michigan,Minnesota,Missouri,Nebraska,NorthDakota,Ohio,SouthDakota,andWisconsin.


NEBHE–NewEnglandBoardofHigherEducation.(Boston,MA)NEBHEpromotesgreatereducationalopportunitiesandservicesfortheresidentsofNewEngland.Inpursuitofthismission,weworkacrossthesixNewEnglandstatestoengageandassistleadersintheassessment,development,andimplementationofsoundeducationpracticesandpoliciesofregionalsignificance,promoteprograms,andbestpracticestoassistthestatesinimplementingimportantregionalhighereducationpolicies,promoteregionalcooperationandprogramsthatencouragetheefficientuseandsharingofeducationalresources,andprovideleadershiptostrengthentherelationshipbetweenhighereducationandtheeconomicwell‐beingofNewEngland.SREB–SouthernRegionalEducationBoard.(Atlanta,GA)SREBisanonprofit,nonpartisanorganizationthatworkswith16memberstatestoimprovepubliceducationateverylevel,frompre‐KthroughPh.D.MemberstatesareAlabama,Arkansas,Delaware,Florida,Georgia,Kentucky,Louisiana,Maryland,Mississippi,NorthCarolina,Oklahoma,SouthCarolina,Tennessee,Texas,VirginiaandWestVirginia.SREBhelpsstatesfocusonwhatworksinbothpolicyandpractice.SREBworkcloselywithpolicy‐makerssuchasstatelegislatorsandeducationagencyofficialsastheyimplementpoliciestoimprovestudentachievement,raisehighschoolgraduationratesandboostcollegecompletion.WICHE–WesternInterstateCommissionforHigherEducation(Boulder,CO).WICHEisaregionalorganizationcreatedbytheWesternRegionalEducationCompact,adoptedinthe1950sbyWesternstates.Itisaninterstatecompactcreatedtofacilitateresourcesharingamongthehighereducationsystemsofthewest.Fifteenstatesaremembers.

GlossaryofTerms

CIP–ClassificationofInstructionalPrograms.ACIPisasix‐digitcodeintheformxx.xxxxthatidentifiesinstructionalprogramspecialtieswithineducationalinstitutions,ataxonomiccodingschemeforsecondaryandpostsecondaryinstructionalprograms.Itisintendedtofacilitatetheorganization,collection,andreportingofprogramdatausingclassificationsthatcapturethemajorityofreportabledata.TheCIPistheacceptedfederalgovernmentstatisticalstandardoninstructionalprogramclassificationsandisusedinavarietyofeducationinformationsurveysanddatabases.FAFSA–FreeApplicationforFederalStudentAid.FederalStudentAid,apartoftheU.S.DepartmentofEducation,isthelargestproviderofstudentfinancialaidinthenation.FederalStudentAidisresponsibleformanagingthestudentfinancialassistanceprogramsauthorizedunderTitleIVoftheHigherEducationActof1965.Theseprogramsprovidegrants,loans,andwork‐studyfundstostudentsattendingcollegeorcareerschool.FTE–Full‐timeEquivalent.FTEisdefinedbytheGovernmentAccountabilityOffice(GAO)asthenumberoftotalhoursworkeddividedbythemaximumnumberofcompensablehoursinafull‐timescheduleasdefinedbylaw.FTEforstudentsisoneofthekeymetricformeasuringthecontributionofacademicsinthirdleveleducation,numberofsupportedstudents.Academicsinsomeuniversitiesarenominallyexpectedtocontribute20FTEs(orinothertermstosupportthe


educationof20full‐timestudents)inanyoneyear.Thisistypicallyachievedthroughacombinationofteachingandresearchsupervision.MOE–MaintenanceofEffort.MOEreferstotherequirementplaceduponmanyfederallyfundedgrantprogramsthattheStateEducationAgency(SEA)andLocalEducationAgencies(LEA)demonstratethatthelevelofstateandlocalfundingremainsrelativelyconstantfromyeartoyear.FailuretomeetMOErequirementsmayresultintheLEAlosingeligibilitytoreceiveIDEAentitlementfundingandrequiringanLEAtorepayfunds,usinganon‐federalsource,totheSEA,whoisrequiredtosendfundstotheUSDepartmentofEducation.R&D–RemedialandDevelopmentalEducation.R&DEducationisdesignedtoassiststudentsachieveexpectedcompetenciesincoreacademicskillssuchasliteracyandnumeracy.Morethanonesemesterofremedialcourseworkmayberequiredofstudentsthatenterwithlowplacementtestscoresatcommunitycolleges.RegardingDevelopmentalEducation,TBRhasreplaceditsformercourse‐basedapproachwithalearningsupportmodelthatenablesDevelopmentalEducationstudentstotakeacollege(1000‐level)courseconcurrentwiththeactivitiesorcourserequiredtoaddresstheircompetencydeficits.Thisapproachhasgreatlyincreasedsuccessratesofstudentssoplaced.SIS–StudentInformationSystem.TheSISisasoftwareapplicationTHECusestomanagethedataitreceivesfromsourcesystems.TheTHECSIScontainsover5millioncombinedrecordsonover1.5millionunduplicatedstudentsdatingbacktothemid‐1990s.TennesseeEducationLotteryScholarship(TELS)datadatebackto2004,andthedatautilizedintheoutcomes‐basedfundingformuladatebackto2010.

Assessment

ACT–FormerlytheAmericanCollegeTestingassessment,theACT®collegereadinessassessmentisacurriculum‐andstandards‐basededucationalandcareerplanningtoolthatassessesstudents'academicreadinessforcollege.TheACTisthecapstoneoftheCollegeandCareerReadinessSystem.ThetestusesthesamescorescaleasACTExploreandACTPlan,makingthesystemaneffectivetooltomonitoracademicprogressandstudentgrowth.TheACTconsistsoffourmultiple‐choicetests:English,Mathematics,Reading,andScience.TheACTPlusWritingincludesthefourmultiple‐choicetestsandaWritingTestAP–AdvancedPlacement.TheCollegeBoard’sAPProgramcurrentlyoffersmorethan30coursesacrossmultiplesubjectareasandisdesignedtoprovidecollegelevelcontenttohighschoolstudents.EachcourseisdevelopedbyacommitteecomposedofcollegefacultyandAPteachers,andcoversthebreadthofinformation,skills,andassignmentsfoundinthecorrespondingcollegecourse.AdvancedPlacementexaminationsaretakeneachMaybyhighschoolstudentsseekingcollegecoursecreditsatparticipatingAmerican,Canadian,andinternationaleducationalinstitutions.Thetestsaretheculminationofyear‐longAdvancedPlacement(AP)courses.Testsareongradedonascaleof1‐5,with3beingacommonly‐acceptedcutscore.AllbutoneoftheAP


examscombinesmultiple‐choicequestionswithafree‐responsesectionineitheressayorproblem‐solvingformat.APStudioArt,thesoleexception,requiresstudentstosubmitaportfolioforreview.CCSSE–CommunityCollegeSurveyofStudentEngagement.HousedattheUniversityofTexasatAustin,theCCSSEsurveyhelpsinstitutionsfocusongoodeducationalpracticeandidentifyareasinwhichtheycanimprovetheirprogramsandservicesforstudents.Administeredduringthespringtomostlyreturningstudents,CCSSEasksaboutinstitutionalpracticesandstudentbehaviorsthatarehighlycorrelatedwithstudentlearningandretention.CCSSEservesasacomplementarypiecetotheSurveyofEnteringStudentEngagement(SENSE),withamorebroadfocusonthestudentexperienceandisusedasabenchmarkinginstrument,diagnostictool,andamonitoringdeviceforinstitutions.CLA–CollegiateLearningAssessment.TheCLAoffersanauthenticapproachtotheimprovementofteachingandlearninginhighereducationthroughacontinuousimprovementmodel,andrecognizesfacultyascentralactorsineducationalimprovementefforts.TheCLAassistsfaculty,departmentchairs,schooladministratorsandothersinterestedinprogrammaticchangetoimproveteachingandlearning,particularlywithrespecttostrengtheninghigherorderskills.TheCLAhelpsinstitutionsimproveundergraduateeducationthroughassessment,professionaldevelopment,bestpracticesandcollaboration.NSSE–NationalSurveyofStudentEngagement.HousedatIndianaUniversityatBloomington,NSSEannuallycollectsinformationathundredsoffour‐yearcollegesanduniversitiesaboutstudentparticipationinprogramsandactivitiesthatinstitutionsprovidefortheirlearningandpersonaldevelopmentthroughitsstudentsurvey.Theresultsprovideanestimateofhowundergraduatesspendtheirtimeandwhattheygainfromattendingcollege.NSSEprovidesparticipatinginstitutionsavarietyofreportsthatcomparetheirstudents'responseswiththoseofstudentsatself‐selectedgroupsofcomparisoninstitutions.PSAT/NMSQT–ThePreliminarySAT/NationalMeritScholarshipQualifyingTest.ThePSATisastandardizedtestthatprovidesfirsthandpracticefortheSAT.ItalsogivesstudentsachancetoenterNMSCscholarshipprogramsandgainaccesstocollegeandcareerplanningtools.ThePSAT/NMSQTmeasurescriticalreadingskills,mathproblem‐solvingskills,andwritingskills.SAT–ScholasticAptitudeTest.TheCollegeBoard’sSAT®testsstudents’knowledgeofEnglish,Math,andReadingandtheirreadinessforcollege‐levelwork.TheSATconsistsofthreesections:math,criticalreading,andwriting.Eachofthesesectionsisscoredonascaleof200to800,making2400aperfectscore.TheSATisacceptedbymorethan2,000collegesanduniversitiesnationwide.

Documents

HIGHER EDUCATION ACRONYMS · TCAT – Tennessee College of Applied Technology. Governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents, the 27 TCATs award diplomas and certificates below the level